What causes your skin to age?

Skin aging is caused by various factors that are controlled by different groups of genes. In a study (Chang et al, J Invest Derm, 2015), dermatologists at Stanford University Medical Center were able to identify candidate genes associated with youthful-appearing facial skin. The genes associated with skin youthfulness were distinct from the genes that have previously been associated with exceptional longevity. The gene variants were not due to ethnic differences. Instead, healthy-looking skin may, in part, be inherited.